California Legislators Put The Profit Of ISPs Over Users’ Privacy Right

In the final hours of 2017 legislative sessions (ended at 2 AM Saturday night) the Privacy Bill that would protect internet users’ browsing history did not get a vote and remained stuck in committee.

The bill, AB375 has not received a vote in either legislative house or on the last day of the session. The bill was designed to place limits on how internet service providers could sell data of their customers.

But despite the constant appeal, the bill never saw action. Supporters stated that this happened because of strong influence and pressure from powerful telecommunication industry.

Ernesto Falcon, the Electronic Frontier Foundation Analyst, said:

“Californians will continue to be denied the legal right to say no to their cable or telephone company using their data for enhancing already high profits,”

He made a powerful statement when he said:

“By failing to pass A.B. 375, the legislature demonstrated that they put the profits of Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast over the privacy rights of their constituents,”

To most extent, internet users in the United States agree to Ernesto statement. With a strong lobby and pressure from the Republican-controlled Congress and President Trump, the bill could never be implemented.

“The bill would have prohibited ISPs from refusing to serve or limiting service to, customers who don’t opt into data sharing. The bill also would have prohibited ISPs from charging customers more if they refuse to waive their privacy rights.”

“Kowtowed to an aggressive lobbying campaign, from telecommunications corporations and Internet companies, which includes spurious claims and false social media advertisements about cybersecurity,”

ISPs, Tech Giants, Advertisers, and Marketers have urged California lawmakers to vote against the proposed bill earlier this week.

Good News is that the legislation can be introduced again at the start of 2018.

A ballot initiative has also been introduced this month that would give California consumers the right to know what personal information businesses are collecting, what they do with it and to whom they are selling it. Reported by Los Angeles Time.